9 Nontoxic And Sustainable Rugs For An Eco-Friendly Home
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
When looking to reduce the footprint of your humble abode, look first under your feet! The same rugs that are bad for the environment can be dangerous for your health too.
Many rugs contain harmful toxins from dyes, glues, and flame retardants (no thanks). Even when safe materials are used to make rugs, they are often treated with harsh chemicals to repel water and stains. The list of toxins found in rugs is often long and dangerous. Luckily though, there are plenty of natural and nontoxic rug alternatives.
When shopping for an eco-friendly rug, look for natural and sustainable fibers—like wool, jute, sisal, and organic cotton. Pay close attention to the rug backing and the underlay pads as well, which are often cheaply produced. Natural latex, jute, and wool are great alternatives.
All that said, we know research can be time-consuming, and often frustrating—which is why our editors have rolled up their sleeves to do the hard work. For when you don’t have time to do all the digging on your own, here is a list of high quality, nontoxic, and sustainable rugs that you can trust to be safe in your home and for the environment. Whether you’re looking for runners, area rugs, or just a beautiful organic rug to accent a corner of your home, this guide is a solid start!
If you want more sustainable interior inspiration, check out our guides to organic mattresses, eco-friendly furniture, and sustainable home decor!
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Most Organic
1. The Citizenry
Best For | Artisan-made patterned rugs
Materials | Oeko-Tex® certified materials, 100% New Zealand wool, natural jute fiber, cotton
Starting At | $145 for 2’ x 3’
The Citizenry is a beautiful source for globally inspired and ethical home decor, including a line of nontoxic rugs. Working in partnership with artists worldwide, the company produces a small batch of timeless rugs in bold, modern patterns. The handwoven quality is a testament to the talent and care of the artists and designers alike, and The Citizenry works to provide fair wages (normally twice the fair trade requirement!), sustaining grants, and safe conditions to each partner.
2. Lorena Canals
Best For | Kid-friendly rugs
Materials | Recycled materials, cotton, wool
Starting At | $95 for 2’ 4” x 3’ 3”
A gorgeous line of nontoxic area rugs (with many designed specifically for children!), Lorena Canals rugs are a safe option to brighten up any small space. Plus, they’re machine-washable! The rugs are handmade by artists in northern India, using only recycled and natural fibers (like cotton and wool) and nontoxic dyes. In collaboration with a school in Haryana serving 100+ children, the company donates a portion of proceeds to support their education. We also love their Rugcycled line, which made entirely from recycled materials from their own factory!
3. Burrow
Best For | Furniture-friendly rugs
Materials | Natural & recycled materials
Starting At | $195 for 3’ x 5’
Burrow keeps it simple with just a handful of rug sizes—which are proportionally designed to complement its most popular furniture. Using natural and recycled materials, Burrow offers ultra-plush, low-pile, and pet-friendly options. And the company works with artisans at weaving houses in India to ensure traditional techniques and ethically sourced materials. Like everything from Burrow, all the rugs ship for free within a week, and financing is available.
4. Parachute
Best For | Minimalist woven rugs
Materials | Oeko-Tex Standard certified wool and cotton
Starting At | $289 for 2’ x 3’
Parachute’s simple, stunning rugs are perfect for the minimalist home. Featuring OEKO-TEX certified cotton, jute, and wool, you can be sure these rugs are free from harmful chemicals and synthetics. The rugs are also Craftmark certified, which means they are handmade in India by sustainably employed traditional artisans in partnership with an 80-year-old heritage textiles factory. A neutral rug for every room? Yes, please!
5. Armadillo
Best For | Indo Nepali hand-knotted Tibetan weave styles
Materials | Jute, wool, silk, cotton, linen, recycled felt and natural fiber
Starting At | $150 for 1’8″ x 4’7″
American/Australian brand Armadillo makes beautiful handwoven rugs that elevate any room. The B Corp is committed to ethical production through slow production and working with fairly paid artisans who use traditional techniques to create their timeless rugs. We especially love the new Mojave collection of 100% jute rugs, which is inspired by ephemeral desert landscapes. The rugs are made with an Indo-Nepali hand-knotted Tibetan weave and a meticulously handspun pile that endows each piece with a uniquely variegated finish. All rugs come with a Declare Label, so you can know the story of each and every piece.
6. CICIL Home
Best For | Fully biodegradable rugs
Materials | Wool, jute, cotton
Starting At | $219 for 3′ x 2’6″
Started by textile vets looking to create a more sustainable product, CICIL Home has five core principles we love: use natural materials only; keep processing minimal to reduce the environmental impact; use local sourcing; keep the supply chain transparent and traceable; and create high-quality items that last a lifetime. All rugs are gently cleaned using a process free from harsh chemicals and dyes, and the final product is fully biodegradable. The shapes are so unique and fun too!
7. West Elm
Best For | Modern styles
Materials | Wool, jute, hemp, cotton, natural fibers, recycled materials
Starting At | $40 for 2′ x 3′
While not all of the rugs at West Elm are organic or fair trade, it’s one of our favorites for nontoxic, natural fiber rugs—made of materials like jute, hemp, and seagrass. We love the company’s commitment to its artisans and the wide variety of ethically made rugs for every room in the house. If you’re looking for a modern take on a natural classic, West Elm has you—and your living room floor—covered.
8. Loomy
Best For | Pet-friendly & outdoor rugs
Materials | Biodegradable natural fibers
Starting At | $570 for 3’ x 5’
A durable rug that stands up to shoes, the sun, and paw prints? It’s possible! Loomy’s handmade-to-order rugs are ethically crafted with 100 percent biodegradable and natural materials, a necessity considering a large part of the world’s landfill is from rugs alone. Expertly loomed by certified artisan weavers using jute, wool, hemp, recycled fibers, and more, you’ll receive endless compliments—and comfort that your rug is going to last.
9. MINNA
Best For | Artisan-made fair trade rugs, hand-knotted pile
Materials | Palm, cotton, wool, recycled scrap material
Starting At | $130 for 3’ round rug
Who says rugs have to be on the floor? MINNA crafts rugs for the floor and the wall! This certified B Corp is based in Hudson, NY, and collaborates with artisans across Central and South America for gorgeous home goods. Using traditional techniques, vintage and natural textiles, and feminist art for inspiration, these rugs are hand-knotted and woven in Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico. Whether you’re looking down or ahead, a MINNA rug will be a sight to see.
Bonus: Ruggable
Best For | Made-to-order washable rugs
Materials | Some post consumer recycled materials
Starting At | $89 for 2’ x 3’
Whether you’ve got furry friends who shed or are just stain-prone (we’re not judging!), Ruggable is our favorite for machine-washable rugs. These are made-to-order to minimize waste using water-based dyes and they’re not treated with harsh chemicals, so our pets can feel safe, too. There are hundreds of styles and sizes to choose from, ranging from bohemian chic to geometric patterns. Ruggable gives back to causes including One Tree Planted, the Best Friends Animal Society, and Baby2Baby. Our editor gave these rugs a try—read our Ruggable review here!
Featured image from Parachute
